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Disclosure: Top10VPN is editorially independent. We may earn commissions if you buy a VPN through links on our site. Worried that someone is spying on your phone activity, reading your messages, and watching what you do online? This guide explains how to spot spyware on your phone, how to properly remove it, and how to protect yourself against spying in the future. Your cell phone provides a snapshot of your entire life through the storage of photos, messages, and phone calls. Sadly, this can make it a target for people who want to spy on you. Regardless of whether you use an iPhone or an Android smartphone, it is possible for someone to install spyware onto your phone that secretly tracks and reports on your activity. It’s even possible for someone to monitor your cell phone’s activity without ever even touching it.
Spyware is designed to remain hidden, so that it can monitor your phone without you knowing. However, a lot of spyware is detectable if you know what you’re looking for. In this guide, we’ll introduce 10 signs that your phone may be being spied on. We’ll then explain what to do if you suspect spyware is on your phone, and walk you through how to remove it. Lastly, we’ll explore ways you can protect yourself from someone spying on your phone in the future. WARNING: Mobile carriers and Internet services monitor and log your web activity. Some then sell that web data to other companies. To stop this from happening, we recommend using a mobile Virtual Private Network (VPN). See our list of the best VPNs. How to Tell If Someone Is Spying on Your PhoneDetecting spyware on your phone is difficult because it will usually be hidden or operating in stealth mode. However, if someone is spying on your phone there are some common signs you can look out for. To see if your phone is being monitored, check for suspicious files and applications, unusual or malfunctioning device behavior, and strange messages. Here are 10 of the most common signs that someone is spying on your phone: 1. Unfamiliar ApplicationsAlthough the most sophisticated spyware is hidden, people occasionally misuse apps like parental control apps in order to spy on others. If someone is spying on your phone using one of these apps, then the spyware will be hiding in plain sight. Search your phone for any unfamiliar applications that you don’t remember downloading. Common ones to look out for include Net Nanny, Kaspersky Safe Kids, Norton Family, and Qustodio. Skip to our section below on How To Remove Spyware for more. 2. Your Device is ‘Rooted’ or ‘Jailbroken’‘Rooting’ an Android device or ‘jailbreaking’ an iOS device allows users to bypass the official app stores and install unapproved apps. If your device has been rooted or jailbroken and you didn’t do it, that’s a strong indication that something suspicious is going on. To check whether an Android device has been rooted, download an app called Root Checker. To check if an iOS device has been jailbroken, look for an app called ‘Cydia’. Cydia is the app used to install software onto jailbroken phones. If you find it on your device, then it’s almost certain your phone has been jailbroken. EXPERT ADVICE: When you buy a second-hand phone, restore it to factory settings to make sure it isn’t jailbroken or rooted. Find out how to do this here: Android or iPhone. 3. The Battery Is Draining FastIf spyware is working continuously, it can drain your battery faster than usual. All batteries degrade over time though, so look for a significant and sudden change, rather than a gradual deterioration. If you do notice a sudden change, check if any recently installed or updated apps are responsible, before concluding you have a problem. We’re often surprised at how power-hungry some social media apps can be. 4. Your Phone Is Getting Very HotIf your device is running hot, it may be a sign that someone is spying on you by running spyware in the background. This is especially relevant if your phone is heating up even when you’re not using it, or when you’re barely using it. NOTE: Similarly, if there is a sudden drop in your phone’s processing speed, it could be because of spying. As more of its resources are directed toward the spyware app, your phone may start to run noticeably slower. 5. Unusually High Data UsageAn unusual surge in the amount of data your phone is consuming can sometimes be a sign spyware is running in the background. The spy app needs to use data to send information back to the perpetrator, so a spike in data usage may indicate foul play. To check your mobile data on iPhone, go to Settings then Mobile Data. You can see your overall data use, or scroll down to see how much mobile data individual apps are consuming. To check your mobile data usage on Android, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data Usage. Under Mobile, you’ll see the total amount of cellular data being used by your phone. Tap Mobile Data Usage to see how your data use has changed over time. From here, you can identify any recent spikes. NOTE: These measures only track the use of cellular data (i.e. the data you use when not connected to WiFi). If your phone is always connected to a WiFi network, this won’t be much help in identifying spyware. That said, some Android phones offer the option to “Show Wi-Fi Data Usage” too. Use this to monitor how much data your phone is using while connected to WiFi. Again, high data usage is not always the result of spyware. You’ll need to rule out legitimate apps first by checking the data consumption and behavior of individual apps. For example, we were alarmed to see our data use spiking, until we discovered our new podcast app was downloading lots of previous episodes. 6. Strange Activity In Standby ModeYour phone can still receive messages and calls when it’s on standby (or in sleep mode), but it shouldn’t be lighting up or making noises for any other reason. If it is, then it may be a symptom of spyware. Similarly, your phone’s screen should be off and not just darkened when in standby mode. 7. Issues With Shutting Down the PhoneSpyware apps might sometimes interfere with a phone’s shutdown process so that the device fails to turn off properly or takes an unusually long time to do so. In 2014, Edward Snowden revealed NSA technology that prevents phones from switching off fully, to then use them for eavesdropping purposes. This is the result of a very sophisticated and highly-targeted attack, but it demonstrates that this form of spying is possible. NOTE: Frequent and seemingly random reboots can also be an indicator that there is spyware on your phone. 8. Odd SMS MessagesText messages can be used by spyware and malware to send and receive data. If you see outgoing messages that you didn’t send, it’s likely an indication that something’s not right. Look out for unusual incoming messages, too. Primitive spyware apps will sometimes use SMS messaging to communicate with their base. The message will typically be coded in some way if it is associated with a spyware app. There’s also services like Cerberus which send hidden commands within SMS messages that can make your phone take a picture and email it to the perpetrator, wipe your SD card, take a screenshot, and many other invasive things. 9. Autocorrect Is MisbehavingKeyloggers are a form of spyware that keep a record of all your keypresses. Someone spying on your phone could use a keylogger to capture your messages and login details. One possible sign that someone may be using a keylogger to spy on your phone is a misbehaving autocorrect system. The keylogger interferes with how the autocorrect function works, so if you notice it acting strangely or working significantly slower than usual, it may indicate that someone is spying on your phone. 10. Screenshot QualityIf you notice the quality of screenshots is worse than expected, that could be the result of spyware, according to Malwarebytes. CAUTION: These symptoms are not exclusive to spyware. They can also be caused by other forms of malware. Adware, for example, can slow down your phone and use up data. Similarly, there are websites that secretly mine your ‘spare’ CPU resources which can consume more than 5% of your battery power in ten minutes. In these cases, your device is being exploited but you’re not necessarily being spied on. How To Confirm There Is Spyware On Your PhoneIf you suspect your phone is being spied on, there are a couple of things you can do to try and confirm it.
Only try this if it is safe to do so. If there is any risk to your physical safety whatsoever, seek help from the authorities or a charitable organisation, such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline. How to Remove Spyware from Your Cell PhoneThere are a number of different ways to remove spyware from Android and iOS phones. These include using security software, removing the problem app manually, and updating the operating system. Use the links below to find out exactly how you can remove spyware on your chosen device:
Whatever phone you have, the most effective option is to do a factory reset. This will delete everything on the device and restore it to its factory settings, so it is the same as it was when it left the factory. You’ll lose all your data and apps on the device, but the spyware will be effectively removed.
If you do a factory reset, make a backup of your data (including photos) first. Don’t reinstall the same apps or software after the reset because you might reinstall the spyware too. If you have an older backup that predates the spyware, you might be able to restore your phone from that. CAUTION: The perpetrator will probably become aware that you’ve removed the spyware because their information flow will dry up. In some situations, it may be safer for you not to remove the spyware. Instead, you could use a secret, second phone for any sensitive communications. How to Remove Spyware Apps on Android1Use a spyware removal toolThe simplest way to remove spyware from your Android phone is to use software designed for the job. It will scan your device for spyware (and other types of malware) and remove it. Be sure to only use software from a reputable security brand. Unknown security apps may themselves carry malware. Here are some safe options:
2Remove the app manuallyYou may be able to find the spyware app in the Application Manager and delete it manually. To do this:
3Update the operating systemIf there’s an update available, applying it can sometimes break the spyware app. It won’t necessarily remove it, though, and isn’t always guaranteed to work. We therefore recommend you use this approach alongside another. 4Carry out a factory resetThis will wipe everything from your phone, including your data, and restore it to its original settings. Make sure you have copied any data you need from the phone first. To do a factory reset on an Android phone:
NOTE: Remember that your login details might have been compromised, so be sure to set up new passwords for your email, social media, ecommerce, and any other accounts. How to Remove Spyware Apps on iPhone1Remove the spyware manuallyIn the wrong hands, some of the parental control apps from the App Store can be misused to spy on your location. It is worth manually checking your installed apps to see if there is anything suspicious. To do this:
2Update the operating systemUpdating the operating system on your iPhone will reverse any jailbreaking and remove any unauthorized apps that were installed outside of the App Store. This is a common way for spyware apps to be installed. There are two ways to update the iOS:
3Carry out a factory resetCarrying out a factory reset will also reverse any jailbreaking and remove any unauthorized apps from your iPhone. It wipes everything from your phone, including your data, and restores it to its original settings. Be sure to copy any data you need (including photos) off the phone first. To do a factory reset on an iPhone, you have two options:
NOTE: Don’t forget that your login details might have been compromised as well. Be sure to set up new passwords for your email, social media, ecommerce, and any other accounts. How to Protect Your Phone Against SpyingHere are eight ways to protect your cell phone from spyware apps in 2022:
Additional Security Tips for Android Users
NOTE: iPhone apps don’t have the freedom to view other apps in the same way Android apps do. This means antivirus apps tend to be more limited on iOS. Instead, to protect yourself on iPhone, you should run a security application, like Avast Mobile Security for iOS or Norton Mobile Security for iOS, to keep you safe from malicious websites. Can Someone Spy on My Phone Without Touching It?Most of the time, someone needs physical access to your phone to install spyware onto it. However, as we’ve seen, it’s also possible to install spyware remotely by convincing you to download the compromised app yourself. This can be done through phishing emails, corrupted SMS messages, and trojan horse apps. Unfortunately, spyware apps aren’t the only way that someone can spy on your phone activity, though. ISPs, governments, WiFi administrators, search engines, website owners, and hackers all have the capacity to spy on certain aspects of what you do on your phone – without having to install any spyware software. For example, your ISP (and any government agency that asks to view its logs) can see which websites you visit, how long you spend there, your social media activity, who you send emails to, where you’re located, and much much more. As we live more of our lives online, it’s becoming easier for authorities, big businesses and hackers to spy on our activities. It’s therefore crucial you start to take steps to secure your phone and protect your online privacy. Start by using the below two online privacy and security tools:
Bottom LineFiguring out if someone is spying on your phone is not easy, but there are a number of telltale signs you should look out for. There are also precautions you can take to prevent spyware apps being installed in the first place. If you find spyware on your phone, you may wish to contact the police. Be aware that removing the spyware is likely to alert the perpetrator that you’re on to them. They may also be able to see where you’ve been if you take the phone to a police station, so please proceed with caution and seek expert guidance if you’re worried about your physical safety. Spyware is not the only way that you can be spied on, either. Your internet traffic is routinely monitored by a number of hidden actors, including your ISP. You should use a private browser and a mobile VPN to protect your privacy and to stop your internet activity being spied on. How do you know if your phone is being tracked?How to tell if your cell phone is being spied on. Unusual sounds during calls. ... . Decreased battery capacity. ... . Phone shows activity when not in use. ... . Phone takes a long time to shut down. ... . Battery temperature feels warm. ... . Receiving unusual texts. ... . Increased data usage. ... . Android.. Can someone track my phone without me knowing?Regardless of whether you use an iPhone or an Android smartphone, it is possible for someone to install spyware onto your phone that secretly tracks and reports on your activity. It's even possible for someone to monitor your cell phone's activity without ever even touching it.
How can I stop someone from tracking my phone?If you suspect you're being tracked using your cell phone, disabling any of these features can help prevent tracking.. Turn off the cellular and Wi-Fi radios on your phone. ... . Disable your GPS radio. ... . Shut the phone down completely and remove the battery.. How do you know if someone is secretly tracking you?There are a couple of signs to look out for:. Increase in data usage. Spy apps typically upload the info to a web server so the person who is doing the spying can log in and see your info. ... . Battery Drain. ... . Hot Phone. ... . Screen Activity. ... . Screenshots and Recordings.. |